Friday, January 25, 2013

This entertaining opinion piece appeared in the Saudi English language daily, the Saudi Gazette. In this blogger's opinion, the appearance of articles like this is right on schedule, as women driving in Saudi Arabia gets closer to reality! A link to the story is here.Abdullah BajubairAl-Eqtisadiah newspaper

Is there a difference between male and female drivers? According to
numerous studies, there are differences in the way men and women drive but no
sex is a better or worse driver.

Some studies say men are, by nature,
more violent not only in the way they drive cars but in their general behavior.
On adherence to traffic rules, a recent study conducted in the United Kingdom
said traffic violations committed by men represented 53 percent of all accidents
in Britain in 2012. The leading violation was speeding.

A separate study
carried out in Germany noted that women tend to respect traffic rules while
driving. The study said women are more rational when driving and they give more
attention and respect to other drivers and traffic laws. The same study said men
deliberately break traffic laws just to feel more
self-confident.

Although most studies show that women are safer drivers,
this does not mean that women are better or more skillful drivers.

Since
the Stone Age, nature has taught man to be strong and violent while hunting.
These qualities enabled him to survive and multiply. We can safely say that this
trait has passed on to modern men who are now using their strength and violent
nature on the road.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

The New York Times has a good story by Sarah Hamdan about the significance of the appointment of women to the Saudi Shura council - and one person interviewed says that soon women in Saudi Arabia may be driving. A link to the story is here, and it's pasted in below._______

By
SARA HAMDAN

DUBAI — For the first time in Saudi Arabia’s
history, women have been appointed to the Shura Council, the
traditionally all-male body which drafts laws, debates major issues and
provides advice to the king.

It may seem a modest step.

There are still no female ministers in the cabinet and women will remain
segregated within the council, with their own seating area and a
separate door.

The unelected council has only an advisory role: It proposes laws but the king wields sole legislative power.

Yet the chosen women, and some others, are calling the appointments a major advance.

“This enormous, rapid and noteworthy progress means Saudi society and
its governing body are finally ready to acknowledge and respect women’s
voices and their rights,” said Dr. Khawla

Al-Kuraya, a professor of
pathology, and director at the King Fahad National Center for Children’s
Cancer and Research.

Dr. Kuraya is one of the 30 women — drawn from the elite ranks of Saudi society and including two royal princesses — named by King Abdullah last week to join the 150-member council, which meets in the capital, Riyadh.

The king’s decree, which stipulated that from now on women should make
up 20 percent of the council, came amid contradictory signals on women’s
rights in the kingdom.

Women are still forbidden to drive and, since November, new electronic
texting procedures have been introduced to tighten the compulsory
monitoring by their male guardians of women traveling outside the
kingdom.

Still, women’s advocates, including some men, are hopeful that the
opening of the Shura Council could lead to other advances.

“This is a major move to introduce more reforms when it comes to gender
equality throughout our daily lives,” said Khalid Al Khudair, founder of
Glowork.net, a recruitment Web site for women in Saudi Arabia.

“Their presence as advisers to the king will move new laws in the right
direction, with labor laws suited to allow women to work in new sectors
and industries.”

“This could mean we will see women driving very soon,” Mr. Khudair added.

The change on the council follows several economic measures aimed at increasing female participation in the work force.

Since August last year, the Labor Ministry has progressively opened up
jobs for women in the retail industry, notably by ordering the
replacement of male assistants in stores selling lingerie, abayas and
jewelry.

Mounira Jamjoom, a research specialist at the Booz consulting firm in
Riyadh, said: “The decision to integrate women in the political process
is timely, and by providing policy stability, the government can unleash
the region’s considerable human promise — its increasingly educated and
aspiring women.”

As recently as 2011 women were excluded from voting in municipal
elections — the highest, if occasional, forum for democracy in a kingdom
that has no elected national institutions. But the king has promised
that they will be allowed to vote and run for office in the next
municipals, planned for 2015.

“Saudi Arabia is the most conservative Gulf country when it comes to
women’s rights, so the appointment of women to the Shura Council, while
in the short term its impact is symbolic, in the long term its impact is
significant,” said Najla Al Awadhi, a former member of the United Arab
Emirates Parliament and one of the first female members of the
legislature there.

“This step by the Saudi king begins to chip away at the institutional
and psychological barriers in Saudi society that have historically been
unaccepting of a woman’s role in public life where national issues are
debated and shaped,” she added. “So the presence of Saudi women there is
critical.”

Appointing women to the Shura Council also will create role models for
younger women in a society where women have been expected to stay out of
the limelight. “We are going to be partners in building our country and
that is a phenomenal change from just 10 years ago,” said Muna
AbuSulayman, a Saudi development consultant who was formerly a popular
television talk show host and secretary general of the Alwaleed Bin
Talal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Kingdom Holding. “It is a
great step in realizing that female rights are really human rights.”

Women will be able to join any of the committees of the council including economic, family and foreign affairs.

“Contrary to popular belief, I don’t believe that specific
female-related issues are going to be the main focus of the women of the
Shura,” said Dr. Kuraya. “Rather, as members we have the right to raise
and address the diverse array of issues that concern Saudi society as a
whole.”

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Saudi Arabia's Shura Council, a consultative body appointed by the king, added 30 women to its membership. This is a historic move, and in this blogger's opinion, takes a logical step toward dealing with introducing women's driving in the Kingdom. This story is being widely reported in the press today, but the account below (link is here) from the Saudi US Relations Information Service actually includes the king's announcement. His words include an affirmation that women will not be marginalized, (citing the important role of women in the early years of Islam), and also warn those who disagree with integrating women better into public life.

At the bottom is the list of names of those who have been appointed to the Council. The women's names are highlighted in yellow. FYI, the names are listed, not in order of rank. They are listed alphabetically by first name, according to the Arabic alphabet. Number 147, is listed as "Mr." though she is a woman. Typo, maybe, but it may also be that the translator was not sure whether to put Mrs. or Ms. or what? Maybe some commenter can explain that.

It is quite probable that there are some women on this list who are against women driving; however at least now there are women in the official political process who can deal with women's issues.

So far the western press hasn't really caught on to what a huge deal this is. They report the event then use it as an excuse to once again decry women's rights in the Kingdom. This is why I'm including this report - since it focuses on the actual facts and the king's announcement.

Blogger's editorial - may this turn out to be a 'tipping point' in getting the women's driving issue resolved! Congratulations to the nominees and all women in Saudi Arabia
___________________________________________________________________

January 11, 2013

Shura Council
Adds 30 Women Members

Special
Report

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia delivered an
address to the opening of the third year of the fifth term of the Saudi
Consultative Council (Majlis Ash-Shura) in Riyadh on Sunday, September 25, 2011.
In his address he expanded political reforms for women with the announcement
that they will participate in the next round of elections — municipal council
seats in 2015 — and could be appointed to the Consultative Council. This is what he told the people of Saudi
Arabia:

I am
pleased to meet you at the opening of the third year of the fifth term of Majlis
Al-Shura, praying to Allah Almighty to crown your works with success.The
struggle of the father of all people, the late King Abdul Aziz, with your
grandfathers (Mercy be upon their souls), has resulted in the unity of hearts,
land, and one destiny. Today, this destiny imposes on us to preserve this
legacy, and not to stop here, but to develop it further in line with Islamic and
moral values.Yes, it
is a responsibility towards our religion, and the interest of our country and
its citizens that we should not stop at the hurdles of the current time; but we
should strengthen our determination by patience and works with dependence on
Allah to address them.Balanced
modernization in line with our Islamic values, which preserve rights, is an
important requirement in an era with no room for the weak and undecided
people.All
people know that Muslim women have had in the Islamic history, positions that
cannot be marginalized, including correct opinions and advice since the era of
Prophet Mohammed, as examples, we cite the advice of the Mother of Believers
‘Umm Salamah’ on ‘Al-Hudaybiyah’ Day, in addition to many examples during the
era of the Prophet’s companions and followers until today.‘Since
we reject to marginalize the role of women in the Saudi society, in every field
of works, according to the (Islamic) Sharia guidelines, and after consultations
with many of our scholars, especially those in the senior scholars council, and
others, who have expressed the preference for this orientation, and supported
this trend, we have decided the following:First,
the participation of women in the Majlis Al-Shura as members from next session
in accordance with the Shari’a guidelines.Second,
as of the next session, women will have the right to nominate themselves for
membership of Municipal Councils, and also have the right to participate in the
nomination of candidates with the Islamic guidelines.You -my
brothers and sisters- have rights that we strive to achieve all matters that are
for your pride, your dignity and your interests. It is our right to seek your
opinions and advices, according to Sharia guidelines, and the fundamentals of
religion, and those who keep away from these guidelines, they are arrogant
persons and they have to bear the responsibility of these actions.I pray
Allah Almighty for help and glory.May
peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

Today King
Abdullah ordered the Saudi Arabian Majlis ash-Shura to add not less than 20%
women to its ranks beginning with the convening of the next term of office. This
SUSRIS special report provides the announcement published by the Saudi Press
Agency earlier today which includes changes to the Majlis Ash-Shura Lawand the names of the Speaker
and the 150 members of the next term.

Shura
Council Adds 30 Women Members

Riyadh, Safar 29,
1434, Jan 11, 2013, SPA -- Two royal orders, amending the Shura Council system
and forming a new chamber for four Hijra years, starting the expiration of the
term of office of the current Shura Council, have been issued here
today.

According to the
Royal Order, the Shura Council will be consisting of its speaker and 150
members, all to be chosen by the King according to their knowledge, experience
and profession, provided that women would be represented in the Council with no
less than 20% of its members.

'After having
reviewed the Governance Statute and the Shura Council's system and regulations
and consulting with a big number of Ulema, members and non-members of the Senior
Ulema Commission, who passed a proposal on the participation of women in the
Shura Council in accordance with Sharia laws, a course we are not going to
divert from a hairsbreadth as it is considered the pillar base of this nation
laid by its founder late King Abdulaziz, and as per the interests of the public,
we have ordered the amendment of the Third Article of the Shura Council system
to read as follows:

'The Shura
Council will be formed of a Speaker and 150 members, to be selected by the King
according to their knowledge, experience and profession, provided that women
would be represented in the Council with no less than 20% of its members. A
royal order will designate the members' rights, duties and other things', the
Royal Order said.

Article 22 of the
Regulations of the Shura Council will read as follows:

Each of the
sub-committees of the Shura Council will be formed by the Shura Council itself
of a number of members no less than five. They will be chosen by the Shura
Council, naming the committee's Chairman and deputy, and taking into
consideration the needs of the committee and the profession of each committee
member as well as the participation of women in the committees.

The Shura Council
will have the right to form ad hoc committees to study specific issues. Each
committee is allowed to form from among its members a sub-committe or more to
study a specific issue.

Women, selected
as members of the Shura Council, will enjoy full rights of memebrship, be
committed to their duties, responsibilites and assume their jobs.

As per the
introduction of this order, women, who are members of the Shura Council, will be
asked to strictly follow the Islamic Sharia regulations, without any kind of
violation, including the Shraia head and face covers (Hijab). In particular, the
following points should be observed:

1- A special
seating place will be allocated for women of the Shura Council, a special
entrace and exit to and from the Council main hall will also be constructed and
all relevant things in complete non-touch with men.

2- Special places
will be allotted for women, guaranteeing complete isolation from those allotted
for men, including special offices for them and for their workers and helpers,
e.g. special appliances and services and prayer places.

This order should
be carried with immediate effect', the Royal Order said.

According to the
Royal Order, the new Shura Council, will be formed from Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin
Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, Speaker of the Shura Council. Following are
the members, who will serve for four Hijra years, starting from the date of the
expiration of the term of office of the current Shura Council which was formed
upon the Royal Order No. A/15 dated 19/2/1430 H.:

Sunday, January 6, 2013

A great interview with Saudi women's rights and driving activist, Manal Al Sharif from Emirates 24/7. The article is pasted below and a link to it is here.

Saudi female activist Manal Al Sharif who hit headlines after she was briefly
jailed for defying a ban on driving cars in the conservative Gulf Kingdom said
on Thursday the day would come when women would be able to wrest that right and
drive.

In comments sent to Emirates 24/7, Al Sharif said
Saudi women must pursue their struggle to achieve all their rights not only
driving cars.

Al Sharif was asked whether she believes the day will come
when Saudi women would be allowed to drive in the Moslem Kingdom, the world’s
dominant oil power.

“The question should not be whether women will be
‘allowed because the Saudi Monarchy will never give away rights just like that,”
she said.

“The question should be: will women ‘take’ the right to
drive... my answer is yes, that right and bigger.. if they understand what led
to losing their rights and stopped accepting their rights to being used by the
system to please certain group of people in Saudi Arabia and here I mean
religious establishment.. it's up to women not them.. women don't realize that
yet.. once they do, they will win the struggle and set their own rules that
everyone shall respect..”

Al Sharif, a 33-year-old computer expert at
the state-owned oil producer Saudi Aramco, was the key figure in a women’s
campaign in 2011 pressing for lifting a long-standing ban on women to drive cars
inside the kingdom, the largest Arab economy.

Saudi officials say it is
up to Kingdom Abdullah to issue a decision ending the ban, which they attribute
to social barriers in the country of 28 million people.

In an article
published by the London-based Saudi Arabic language daily Alhayat on Wednesday,
Al Sharif said she had faced what she described a concerted hostile campaign
inside Saudi Arabia, adding that she has been accused of being an “Israeli
agent” and a “Shiite Moslem” working for Iran.

Al Sharif also said she
was shocked to learn that her little son was beaten by his school mates for
being the son of “Manal Al Sharif.”

“I was shocked and frightened to see
marks of beating on my son’s face…he told me older school mates hit him because
he is the son of Manal Al Sharif who drove a car…he was only 5 years old in 2011
when he was subjected to this,” she said.

“One boy said to him ‘I saw
your mother on Facebook but you and your mother should be in prison…I still
remember when I struggled to calm down my son because I was even more frightened
than him….how could a 5-year-old understand a word like jail.”

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About Me

I'm a freelance writer based in Maine. I lived in Saudi Arabia for many years. I studied Arabic in college eons ago and married my college sweetheart, a fellow Arabic student. My first novel, A CARAVAN OF BRIDES, is set in Saudi Arabia. I'm working on my second novel while writing feature stories about the Middle East. I am also the co-founder and Administrative Director of the Arabic Music Retreat.